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Roosters win our best say Storm

James MacSmith

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith says the Storm returned to the top of their game in the 26-18 defeat of Sydney Roosters on Saturday.

The premiers secured their first win in a month over the tricolours after shock back-to-back losses to Canberra and Penrith and a draw with Manly had stalled their early season momentum after winning their opening seven games.

Melbourne had looked tired and vulnerable over the past three matches but put paid to any thoughts they were a dwindling force in the impressive victory over the high-flying Roosters who had won their previous five straight games.

"I thought it was our best performance of the year ... our best performance by a fair way," Smith said.

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"The club has done a great job with all the players coming off a big year last year and the trip to England and all the boys are feeling pretty good at the moment.

"We knew we were coming up against a fantastic side and that is a good result for us.

"When you have a couple of losses and things don't go your way, we were not that far from winning games but we were losing, mentally that can be frustrating and draining but the entire week leading up to the Roosters game our preparation was great."

A five-day turnaround after Monday's 10-all golden point draw with the Sea Eagles was expected to take its toll on the Storm but they finished the better of the two teams.

"I felt really good leading into the game, it is probably the best I have felt all season," Smith said.

"After the golden point game we didn't do much work and we were able to freshen up."

Melbourne now face their traditionally tricky Origin period with Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk all committed to the Queensland cause over that period while Ryan Hoffman was selected for NSW.

"It's always a tough period but I'm confident we can get through it better than last year," Storm coach Craig Bellamy said.

"But we are not the only side affected. We just have to do our planning right and make sure we stick to it."